03.15.12

End Of Season Run In

Posted in Cardiff City, Football Manager 2012 at 00:32 by TheHunter

The end of a season was upon us. Just 6 games were to decide our fate. Automatic promotion? Or will it be Playoffs? These were our remaining fixtures.

Watford: We started this game looking for a easy 3 points as Watford were struggling to survive. It wasnt a easy game, they gave us a really good game. Watford started off the better of the two sides but could not put the ball in the net, which is why they are down there. We managed to pay for there miss chances, and who else but Robert Earnshaw got us off the mark to put us 1 nil to the good. Thats how it remained till half time. The game continued to be exciting and interesting during the second half, quite alot of shots flying around but no goals. We finally looked like we had wrapped the game up when Earnshaw put us 2-0 up. Earnshaw our saviour of the season with a neat finish past Scott Loach. Watford did sneak a goal back, but i was confident of the 3 points was wrapped up and they were. Roll on the next game!

Derby County: We made this game harder than it should of been. But thankfully a early Robert Earnshaw goal sealed another vital 3 points for Cardiff City. As said we got off to a great start with Earnshaw putting us a goal to the good. We continued to push for a second goal and dominate possession, but we just couldnt find the net. Not even Earnshaw could. The second half started in favor of Derby, who made a few decent chances for themselves, but couldnt hit the target to often. As the game went on Derby”s early second half steam had gone, and we started to put pressure on the keeper. But we could not score. Thankfully the 1 goal was just enough, but we could of scored atleast 3 this game. But still its 3 points thats all that counts.

Hull City: A tough game, and Hull were the better of the two sides.  Hull started off very bright and created some early chances, but David Marshall was on song pulling off some decent saves. Hulls dominance continued right the way till the half time whistle. Luckily we were still drawing 0-0. We needed a improvement in the second half, and we did get better, but Hull were still looking the more likely to score between both sides. We did create some more chances this half but we could not finish them off. However just 12 minutes before the end, Robert Earnshaw had the chances to score, but seen it was easier for Jordan Rhodes, so Earnshaw slips in a ball for Rhodes who taps in to give us another 3 points!

With 3 games left, this is how the top 3 looked like..

Reading: A home tie against Reading was massive! We started off brightly against the league leaders creating good chances, and it only took us 18 minutes until we found the net. Guess who got the goal? Yes Robert Earnshaw grabbing the goal. Soava with a header to clear fell to Readings full back Earnshaw was quick in the tackle and passed one in past the keeper. We continued to be the better side in this game, which surprised me seeing who we were up against. We soon made the pressure pay thanks to Earnshaw again grabbing himself to another goal. Craig Conway this time setting up the goal. In the second half Reading played better, but we were still on top. No other goals in this game which ment we grabbed a huge 3 points again!

During the game Cardiff Legend Robert Earnshaw set a new record.

Earnshaw surpassed his own record of League goals this season, beating his previous record 10 years ago! Wow i can think of so many bad strikers in that time weve had here. Hes also not to far in becoming our greatest goalscorer of all time. A good season next season and he could beat it.

As the table stood after our game with Reading

Portsmouth: We lost to these last time, could we beat them this time? Hmm no we couldnt. Ill keep this short and sweet. We lost 4-0. Whoops. That wasnt in the script. Anyway, we were simply poor this game. Joel Ward got Portsmouth of with a fairly early goal. Real life loanee Liam Lawrence grabbed two and Bejani got the other to cause a massive defeat. Poor defending today.

With this i thought 1 game left. Were going to have to settle for a playoff spot, with the potential of playing Portsmouth. But my mood was lightened when i seen these two things.

1. Reading had played there game in hand, and won. Already promoted but Bristol City hand also lost this weeks game thankfully, and when i went to check out Bristols last match, i thought could this really be possible…

There last game was against Reading. My luck looked to be in!

Nottingham Forest: The last game against these was a very exciting end to end game. If this could happen again, there will be alot of nervous Cardiff fans in todays game. The game kicked off. Forest had the first chance at goal early on, but a huge roar from the crowd as news filtered through that Reading had taken a 1-0 lead just 3 minutes into the match. The game was exactly like the previous meeting! End to end, lots of chances.  21 minutes in Petter Whittingham threads in a ball to Robert Earnshaw, Earnshaw does what he does and sticks the ball into the back of the net. The smile on my face, couldnt believe it. My smile, and the crowds smile got a little bit bigger straight after the goal, and news filtered through the Reading were now 2-0 up! The game continued brilliantly, but nervously, and Ishmael Miller almost grabbed the equalizing goal, thankfully Kevin McNaughton was on the line to clear it away. Pheww!! Half time whistle goes. As it stands were 45 minutes away from The Premier League! Soon as kick off began, more news filtered through that Bristol had grabbed one back and now Reading were just 2-1 up. Nerves were growing amongst the fans. The game was end to end, we couldnt get that mightily important 2nd goal. 76 minutes in and the crowds sprits were lifted, Bristol 1-3 Reading. But 1 goal for Nottingham Forest would change everything. Thankfully the game ended at 1-0! What a way to seal promotion!! In difficult circumstances and to end the season with probably the most exciting game of the season. Im going to miss playing Forest next season .

So we did it via automatic places to seal premier league football! But how did we get that automatic spot when we were a fair few points behide Bristol City and Reading? Que the messy picture…

(Abit messy but, there we go) As we can see Bristol went on a terrible run with 3 draws and 2 defeats and 1 win. Reading didnt have the greatest of times with 3 wins and 3 defeats. While we picked up 5 wins and 1 defeat. Big defeat at that.

Just as confirmation here the league standings for the season.

A few teams who disappointed this season. West Ham coming just 12th! With Ipswich and Middlesborough just the 2 places above the dreaded dotted line at the bottom. As you can see, we conceded 62 goals this season, something needs to be addressed here if we are to stand any chance of staying up next season. Even Watford in 22nd places conceded less than we did. A whole new backline is needed i think. Except McNaughton maybe. See who we can bring in.

We are also in talks with young midfielder Fillip Kiss. He hasn’t set the Championship alight. But he has been the most consistent performer this season. At 150k in this day is nothing compared to some prices. Even if he doesnt play much next season atleast i know i have a consistent performer in my squad.

Thats it from me. Join me next time as i look to improve the squad ready to face the big guns of Manchester United and City. (And beat them 4-0…)

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